England Secures Ninth Consecutive Victory Over Tough Fiji

Autumn International Series

England (14) 38

Tries: Cowan-Dickie, Feyi-Waboso, Genge, George, Arundell, Itoje Cons: F Smith 5

Fiji (13) 18

Tries: Ikanivere 2, Muntz Pen: Muntz

England racked up four second-half tries to defeat a physical Fijian team in their latest fall test match.

The victory extends Steve Borthwick's side's winning run to nine matches and follows up their win over Australia the previous weekend.

England opened the scoring through Luke Cowan-Dickie before the visitors answered back with scores by Ikanivere and Caleb Muntz.

Fly-half the Fijian playmaker failed to convert either try but kicked a penalty to take the visitors further ahead before Immanuel Feyi-Waboso scored.

Prop Genge and the Fijian hooker then traded scores to spark an entertaining second half.

Replacements George and Henry Arundell, who demonstrated his scintillating pace, finished off tries to take the English side into a comfortable lead.

These tries came either side of Fiji scrum-half Simi Kuruvoli spilling the ball when going for the tryline.

Skipper Maro Itoje, who also entered as a substitute, grabbed the final try.

Borthwick's side now play New Zealand next Saturday in their toughest test on paper this fall.

Prior to this encounter, the English team had claimed victory in 8 of their nine games with Fiji – most lately taking 30-24 in the quarter-finals of the 2023 World Cup.

Their sole loss came just weeks before the competition in Europe and was a major turning point under Borthwick.

With the Pacific Islanders on a five-game streak – their joint longest run since the late nineties – the fixture was always likely to be hard-fought.

Following smooth attacking phases, number eight Chandler Cunningham-South gained valuable meters before Cowan-Dickie forced his way over for the opening score from close range, with the Fijian's score off the back of a maul adding a swift reply.

Nicknamed the Flying Fijians, that was clear in defense through powerful opening period midfield hits, with number fifteen Smith, deployed as a second playmaker, in especial targeted.

But it was the classic Fijian attacking flair that was the highlight in the first forty as passes out of the tackle cut England's defence open for Muntz to score.

Feyi-Waboso expertly collected a kick across the field by Fin Smith to take the hosts into the lead after he had been dangerously taken out in the air by Ravutaumada, who was given a yellow card following a video review.

The English team broke clear from the Wallabies the previous weekend in the last twenty minutes through the strength of their replacements that contained multiple British and Irish Lions.

A much-changed starting lineup from the win over the Wallabies did score the following touchdown as the prop crossed following a strong carry by Ollie Lawrence, who was returning to the national side after tearing his Achilles against Italy in March.

Nonetheless, after a clever set piece was finished by Ikanivere, the coach unloaded five of his substitutes on the 54th minute – featuring Lions tourists Henry Pollock and Tom Curry.

With the game still up for grabs, Fijian number nine Kuruvoli lost control of the ball when reaching for the goal line to cancel out substitute George's try.

Flanker Ben Earl, who scored against Australia, produced a spectacular game-saving stop to maintain a narrow lead between the sides.

It capped another outstanding overall display by Earl, who received consecutive player-of-the-match awards.

Arundell's pace to chase down a grubber kick showcased exactly why England's bench is so influential.

It is full of stars and quality, which has helped secure victories in the final quarter that were lost versus Australia and the All Blacks the previous fall.

Given the Scottish side pushed the All Blacks hard, the English team will feel confident of making a big statement next week.

If successful, the bench will likely again be crucial.

England: M Smith; Freeman, Lawrence, Dingwall, Feyi-Waboso; F Smith, Mitchell; Genge, Cowan-Dickie, Heyes, Coles, Chessum, Pepper, Earl, Cunningham-South

Replacements: George, Baxter, Opoku-Fordjour, Itoje, T Curry, Pollock, Spencer, Arundell

Fiji: Rayasi; Ravutaumada, Ravouvou, Tuisova, Wainiqolo; Muntz, Kuruvoli; Mawi, Ikanivere, Doge, Nasilasila, Mayanavanua, Sowakula, Canakaivata, Mata

Replacements: Togiatama, Hetet, Tawake, Vocevoce, Murray, Wye, Armstrong-Ravula, Maqala

Sin-bin: Ravutaumada

Referee: Paul Williams (New Zealand)

Assistant referee: Luc Ramos (France) and Katsuki Furuse (Japan)

Television match official: Mike Adamson (Scotland)